Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 pages and I feel that is being overly generous. 

Survivor Song introduces us an outbreak of rabies rapidly taking over a community. Rabies is infecting animals and people alike, at an alarming rate, spreading through the body minutes after contact. Hospitals are unable to keep up with the overwhelming rate of infection and supplies are dwindling. 

The reader is introduced to Natalie and Ramola, two friends from college, experiencing the horror unfolding around them. The story is told in alternating chapters between Natalie and Ramola and depicts their journey as tragedy and heartbreak falls upon their community. 

Natalie is awaiting the arrival of her newborn and documenting day by day on her cellphone which will be all the more impactful as the story unfolds. Natalie is faced with decisions no wife and mother should have to make. I could go into more detail but I feel that would take away from Natalie's battles throughout the book. Let's just say Natalie really gets the shitty end of the deal. 

Ramola is a doctor, nervously awaiting her shift at the hospital to help those infected. That is, of course, until Natalie needs Ramola. Rams, as Natalie calls her, steps up for her friend throughout the story, assisting Natalie in finding safety, medical care, and eventually, making a life changing decision for the both of them and Natalie's unborn baby. Rams is by far someone you would want by your side during a rabies outbreak. 

Along the way, as they seek medical attention outside of the quarantine zone, they run into interesting characters- from two young adults to a militia. Each one, giving Natalie and Rams a run for their money and showing a more humane side of people during a crisis. 

The ending, while predictable, was heartwarming after the reader is put through a very eerie, intense ride. I appreciated the story wrapped up nicely at the end. 

I enjoyed the descriptions provided by Mr. Tremblay. His creativity, as far as the premise of the story, was interesting and thought provoking. I would not recommend, however, reading this if you are having difficulty processing the current state of affairs the world was thrust into with COVID-19. A lot of similarities could be drawn to the crisis in the book and to reality which I think made it even creepier and left me with goosebumps. This time, I wasn't reading a story thinking "Oh, that could never happen!" A lot of the scenes introduced throughout made me feel as though I were watching the journey of these women from the window of my house. I think this was the major selling point for me. 

I disliked the lack of depth in the characters and how sometimes the background giving on Natalie and Ramola didn't quite flow with the story and the chaos unfolding. By explaining the pasts of Natalie and Ramola and their personal lives, really didn't further the story or provide more insight as to what was going on around them. I think I wanted less background and more action and chaos. I felt the storyline itself was lacking. It seemed a bit predictable, especially when Rams had to make an unnerving decision. We all kind of knew it was going to be heading to that decision and what the outcome would be. 

I am a fan of Paul Tremblay's but I would have to say this wasn't some of his better work. If not for the relation to present day reality and the fact that Paul Tremblay was still able to provide that goosebump, heart pounding factor in his writing, I probably would have given this book a much lower rating.